Preview — Lies My Teacher Told Me
by James W. Loewen

Lies My Teacher Told Me

Winner of the 1996 American Book Award and the Oliver Cromwell Cox Award for Distinguished Anti-Racist Scholarship

Americans have lost touch with their history, and in this thought-provoking book, Professor James Loewen shows why. After surveying twelve leading high school American history texts, he has concluded that not one does a decent job of making history interesti

Winner of the 1996 American Book Award and the Oliver Cromwell Cox Award for Distinguished Anti-Racist Scholarship

Americans have lost touch with their history, and in this thought-provoking book, Professor James Loewen shows why. After surveying twelve leading high school American history texts, he has concluded that not one does a decent job of making history interesting or memorable. Marred by an embarrassing combination of blind patriotism, mindless optimism, sheer misinformation, and outright lies, these books omit almost all the ambiguity, passion, conflict, and drama from our past. In ten powerful chapters, Loewen reveals that:

The United States dropped three times as many tons of explosives in Vietman as it dropped in all theaters of World War II, including Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Ponce de Leon went to Florida mainly to capture Native Americans as slaves for Hispaniola, not to find the mythical fountain of youth. Woodrow Wilson, known as a progressive leader, was in fact a white supremacist who personally vetoed a clause on racial equality in the Covenant of the League of Nations. The first colony to legalize slavery was not Virginia but Massachusetts.

From the truth about Columbus's historic voyages to an honest evaluation of our national leaders, Loewen revives our history, restoring to it the vitality and relevance it truly possesses.

Community Reviews

This was a great book! The first two-thirds gives example after example of the many lies, omissions, and half-truths found in American high school history books, and the last third speculates why this has happened. Here's one example:

Almost everyone knew the world was round before 1492. Columbus's main reason for traveling to the new world to find gold, and he was responsible for killing, torturing and enslaving natives by the millions. Eight million in Haiti alone were reduced to 200 within 60This was a great book! The first two-thirds gives example after example of the many lies, omissions, and half-truths found in American high school history books, and the last third speculates why this has happened. Here's one example:

Almost everyone knew the world was round before 1492. Columbus's main reason for traveling to the new world to find gold, and he was responsible for killing, torturing and enslaving natives by the millions. Eight million in Haiti alone were reduced to 200 within 60 years - now seen as history's first documented genocide. Columbus practically invented genocide.

The new world was not populated by sparsely-scattered tribes, but by as many as 100 million Indians, which were systematically wiped out by one plague after another, most introduced purposely. Columbus's role in setting up the system is never mentioned. Indians were hunted for sport, murdered for dog food, and given to officers as sex slaves. Tributes in gold or cotton were due every 3 months, and Indians who did not comply had their hands chopped off.

The book goes on to discuss the invisibility of both racism and anti-racism in history books, and example after example of how history books white-wash our history, always making America look like the good guys, and never mentioning our mistakes.

The author would like to see history taught showing both sides of each event, and involve students in discussions of the pros and cons, which might make it more interesting to study.

Why is history taught this way? The author speculates that, although we strive for the truth in all other subjects, we purposely lie in history books, beasue we are trying to use history to build patriotism and a love of America in our children, and the truth might get in the way of that goal. We also want to shield our children from the harsh realities of the world, at least till they study history in college.

But most students never study history in college, and the facts go unlearned. I found much in this book that I never knew. Except for the controversy about teaching Evolution, history is the only subject whose content is dictated by parental groups and school boards.

This is a book that will make you stop and think like few others will....more

Peter WyndhamAmerican history being taught in primary schools has snow balled into the lie that has evolved into a life of its own. They can't correct it now. It'sAmerican history being taught in primary schools has snow balled into the lie that has evolved into a life of its own. They can't correct it now. It's like you find out your sweetie has been cheating the whole time. It'll never be the same cause I don't trust when you say. I hope I'm rambling too much but the beginning of America lie can't be untold now..even if everyone knows it's a lie. Bill Clinton looked everyone in the eye, knowing that he was lying, and lied to us then so many of us applauded him for doing. It's madness lol where do you start when does it end...more
Oct 31, 2013 07:12PM

OdeaecWhat hogwash. All I leaned in classes in el and high school was that America was a terrible place ruled by ignorant and ruthless unprincipled white meWhat hogwash. All I leaned in classes in el and high school was that America was a terrible place ruled by ignorant and ruthless unprincipled white men. It took a significant amount of reading on my own time and a Masters in History in addition to living overseas to begin to understand the truth. And it's not this book- in fact this book is the lie that I was taught by some truly brainwashed educators! I think it's important to understand that during the last years of Rome, a campaign was pursued by the elite to reinforce the idea that any achievements of the empire were not valued or relevant and that philosophy contributed to its ultimate demise- and the worlds view of the empire until the Renaissance. It's unfortunate that so many are drawn in by this. It makes me pray that eventually the writers and supporters of this curriculum get what they want and we descend into war and poverty. That's the goal of this book- enjoy!...more
Aug 17, 2014 12:47PM

I originally picked this up several years ago because the blurb on the back cover appealed to me:

“Lies My Teacher Told Me” is for anyone who has ever fallen asleep in history class."

Mr. Loewen’s premise is that history textbooks have been presented to portray a slanted, optimistic and patriotic “dumbed-down” view of America, because this suits the needs of the conservative white people who sit on the textbook adoption boards. By critiquing 12 highly used American History textbooks, the author suI originally picked this up several years ago because the blurb on the back cover appealed to me:

“Lies My Teacher Told Me” is for anyone who has ever fallen asleep in history class."

Mr. Loewen’s premise is that history textbooks have been presented to portray a slanted, optimistic and patriotic “dumbed-down” view of America, because this suits the needs of the conservative white people who sit on the textbook adoption boards. By critiquing 12 highly used American History textbooks, the author successfully presents several topics which they currently address, and uncovers the alleged omissions and distortions.

I completely agree with the author’s basic belief that American students are getting short-changed when we present only the PC-version of our country’s heritage, not to mention the fact that this watered down presentation only serves to bore them all to tears (students consider history to be “the most irrelevant” and “boring” of all the 21 subjects commonly taught in school). I, personally, was interested to learn that not one of the twelve textbooks described the geopolitical implications of Christopher Columbus’s encounter with the Americans; none mention that Columbus was the first to send slaves across the Atlantic. When we present our youth the world through rose-colored glasses, where no controversial subjects arise, it no doubt causes them to be ill prepared for the real world that exists beyond the classroom.

Having said all that, however, I found Loewen was overplaying the “politically correct” hand himself, replacing the conservative, Euro-centric rhetoric with his own overtly socialist and liberal leanings. His strong opinions on historical events may cause some readers to overlook his message on education. For this reader, it made for just the kind of boring recitation of skewed political propaganda the author claims to be rallying against. If you are interested in the topic of education and how it is being inseminated to our children through textbook censorship and abridgement of the facts, then I would recommend Diane Ratvitch’s “The Language Police: How Pressure Groups Restrict What Students Learn” for a more balanced examination of this issue. (clicking on the title will link you to a reader's journal/discussion of the book) ...more

Ostensibly, Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James Loewen is a book about factual inaccuracies found in a survey of twelve popular History textbooks. That's a good hook, but unfortunately once the hook gets you the place it pulls you into is slightly different than what you might expect. This book might more accurately be titled Subtle Biases Created by Questionable Omissions in A Few Textbooks. But that, of course, is not quite as bombastic a titleOstensibly, Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong by James Loewen is a book about factual inaccuracies found in a survey of twelve popular History textbooks. That's a good hook, but unfortunately once the hook gets you the place it pulls you into is slightly different than what you might expect. This book might more accurately be titled Subtle Biases Created by Questionable Omissions in A Few Textbooks. But that, of course, is not quite as bombastic a title and you probably wouldn't read the book, would you?

After a brief false start involving how Hellen Keller was a raging Communist, Loewen starts his review of American history in precolonial days, beginning with the atrocities of the Conquistadors and other European explorers. Then it moves on to the atrocities of the White European settlers. Then the atrocities of the early American, White colonists. Then the atrocities of the antebellum slave owners. Then the atrocities of the postbellum racists. Then the atrocities of the opponents of the civil rights movement. You see the pattern here? It holds up for most of the book.

Throughout it all, Loewen does a pretty good job of showing how textbooks often omit information and whitewash (pun intended) the characters of prominent Europeans and Americans, such as Christopher Columbus and Abraham Lincoln. And it is pretty interesting to read how, for example, textbooks describe how the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria were "storm battered" and floundered into the shores of the new world full of crews on the brink of mutiny, while Columbus's own personal journal pretty much says that hey, the weather has been awesome this whole trip and everyone is still in a great mood. Or how Lincoln made several campaign speeches in which he turned his nose at the idea of racial equality.

And Loewen makes good points about how these omissions seem to be systematic done towards the end of downplaying the unpleasant (like, say, the genocide of Native Americans through disease and murder) and emphasizing the heroic (like, say, taming a wilderness that in truth wasn't that wild because the Indians had already cultivated it but are dead now). At times, his comments are impressively subtle, like when he notes how textbooks often credit President Kennedy and other governmental institutions for coming up with anti-discrimination legislation during the 60s, when the government was, for the most part, bowing to pressure from civil rights activists, who really deserve all the credit. This kind of misinformation, he argues, teaches that Blacks and their White allies were not the ones who enacted these changes can thus not expect to view them as inspirations for future battles. It's a subtle point, but Loewen makes good arguments that stuff like this is all in the name of making us feel good about our country and unquestioning about our pride in our history. And he's good about describing how this is doing a disservice to people both as students of history and as eventual participants in our system of government.

BUT, that all being said, I'm not quite sure I've ever read anything so awash in liberal White guilt as this book. It's not that I necessarily disagree with any of this, but the tone of the work is often offsetting and sometimes approaches zealotry. I was really hoping to read more interesting tidbits about stuff that history books get wrong, the kind of stuff that might serve well as idle chit-chat at my next dinner party or bar crawl. But it doesn't take long for it to become apparent that that's not what this books is about. It's really just a vehicle for Loewen's politics. Not that there's anything wrong with that and not that I found myself disagreeing with his politics too often (well, sometimes). It's just not the book I expected or even really wanted....more

The problem with this one is that it has so much content, so much information per page, that it is hard to know where to start. I found this book nearly life altering, particularly since I’m a week away from studying to become a history teacher. If you are in the US this is a very important book for you to read as you are sure to be shocked by some of the myths about your history that are discussed here. For the rest of us in the non-USA this book is just as important because it serves as a guidThe problem with this one is that it has so much content, so much information per page, that it is hard to know where to start. I found this book nearly life altering, particularly since I’m a week away from studying to become a history teacher. If you are in the US this is a very important book for you to read as you are sure to be shocked by some of the myths about your history that are discussed here. For the rest of us in the non-USA this book is just as important because it serves as a guide to understand why Americans are so remarkably ignorant or ill-informed about their history. Along the way this book has interesting things to say about such subjects as why education does not make people more compassionate or more likely to think for themselves and why textbooks present such a distorted picture of US history in the first place. This is, in short, a deeply powerful book about how we ought to educate our children and why the fact that schools do such a bad job at teaching history is part of the reason why they do such a poor job at providing the kind of education needed by students to help them live their lives in a democracy.

This book bases its arguments around what is printed in (and omitted from) twelve popular textbooks on US history. The lies this book is concerned with are the distortions and untruths that are a commonplace in high school American History textbooks. As he points out early in this book, the first year of most college history courses in the US are about seeking to remove all of the misinformation students have been taught in high school. One of the author’s colleagues refers to first year American History as ‘Iconoclasm I and II’.

And the distortions he documents here are nearly enough to turn your hair colour. Take that ever nice deaf and blind girl, Helen Keller, who made good and thereby proved by the sheer force of example of her life that anyone can make it in America – the land of opportunity, home of the free, land of the brave. What is never mentioned, Loewen points out, is that this message, and this is the story presented of Keller’s in virtually all of the text books, is the exact opposite of the meaning Keller sought to illustrate by her own life’s work. Keller, for most of her life, was a Socialist and avid supporter of the Soviet Union. She actively sought to improve the lot of other people who were either deaf or blind while pointing out that these people were generally made so by industrial accidents. She said that most of these people had no hope of achieving in any way similar to how she had. If anything, it was her moral outrage at the social inequities in capitalist society that she wanted to be remembered for and the work she did to remove these inequities, work so that we too should be outraged and do something about these outrages – but instead our textbooks turn a blind-eye and stop up our ears to her life’s work and message while painting a halo around both her and her teacher. A halo so bright that it hides the truth with its glare.

His discussion of Woodrow Wilson is possibly even more disturbing. Wilson’s support of the Ku Klux Klan, for example, is never mentioned in any of the books, and his segregation of the US government is likewise ignored by all of the textbooks. Of course, lies of omission are no less lies. Did you know that when Wilson was president of Princeton it was the only northern university not to admit black students? Or that Wilson only once met African American leaders in the White House but virtually through them out?

Wilson did much to bring about the modern world and many of his achievements following the First World War in particular are a great tribute to him, but, as is pointed out here, American high school textbooks seem incapable of presenting a ‘worts and all’ picture of US ‘heroes’. Take as an example Wilson’s high praise of the film The Birth of a Nation – a jaunty little film whose themes will become clear once you are told it was originally called The Clansmen and was about the great lie in American history, that Reconstruction following the Civil War was a time when African Americans dominated life in the south. Wilson said, “It is like writing history in lightning, and my only regret is that it is all true.”

Racism is a key theme in American history and an important way to understand much about modern America. And yet, it is a theme that is mostly ignored in all of the textbooks. The part played by plague in depopulating America so that white and black settlers could take over Native American land is not discussed at all in any of the text books – despite the impossibility of American being so settled without biological warfare. Columbus’s extermination of the Native Americans of Haiti is not mentioned in any of the text books and this fact fits well with the theme that heroes can do no wrong and if they did do wrong then such wrongs are either excused or ignored. As he points out, “In the early 1920s the American Legion said that authors of textbooks ‘are at fault in placing before immature pupils the blunders, foibles and frailties of prominent heroes and patriots of our Nation.’”

I have known so little about US involvement in Haiti, but all I am finding out is deeply shameful and therefore reason enough to keep it hidden. I need to quote this bit, “Then the United States supervised a pseudo-referendum to approve a new Haitian constitution, less democratic than the constitution it replaced; the referendum passed by a hilarious 98,225 to 768”. Of course, hilarious is used here in the sense that we laugh and cry about the same things. However, Columbus’s extermination of the estimated 8 million natives of Haiti, often by working them to death, makes most of the horrors that followed on that tortured island pale in comparison.

Did you know that King James (yes, of the Bible fame) gave thanks to the Almighty God for providing the plague that helped depopulate the Americas of its original inhabitants? He was not the first or the last to do this, but you might not think that from any of the history books studied in American high schools as the entire topic remains taboo.

And just what was the Civil War fought for? Surely not something as crass as slavery. His discussion of the treatment given to the end of slavery in textbooks, particularly from the 1920s (a time at the full depth of the nadir of backlash – particularly in southern states, but similar in the north) is heart-wrenching. History in the US seems to be written to ensure that middle class white kids don’t get offended – the effects on African Americans, Native Americans, Spanish Americans or working class Americans is of little or no interest to the authors of these text books.

The stuff in this book on white people living with Native Americans with even Benjamin Franklin saying that ‘No European who has tasted Savage Life can afterwards bare to live in our societies’ is a damning indictment of ‘our societies’ and something else never mentioned in history text books.

Did you know that the Native Americans paid $24 for Manhattan Island weren’t even the Indians who lived there? Rather than being stupid, these Indians are the colonial equivalent of the guy who sold the Eiffel Tower to scrap metal dealers. Of course, finding the ‘right’ Indian to buy land from was very low on the list of priorities of those doing the buying.

Look, I haven’t even told you about classes in the United States and how textbooks assure students that there have only been middle class people in America since the 1600s. The extensive chapters on slavery and reconstruction are mind-blowing. As is the factoid gleaned from his students – 22 percent of whom thought the Vietnam War was fought between North and South Korea (you’d have thought there was a bit of a hint there in the name of the war, but obviously not).

Look, I could go on and on. This book is truly fascinating and it provides some hope and lots of ideas on how history could be taught so as to help students think for themselves, to learn about their history and to engage in the life of their society. None of these involve writing the ‘perfect’ history book, but all of them involve asking that most essential of all questions (so important they generally ask it in Latin) cui bono? Who benefits?

A magnificent book and one that has filled me with passion. I can’t praise this book enough.

"American exceptionalism is the theory that the United States is "qualitatively different" from other states.[2] In this view, U.S. exceptionalism stems from its emergence from a revolution, becoming what political scientist Seymour Martin Lipset called "the first new nation"[2] and developing a uniquely American ideology, "Americanism", based on liberty, egalitarianism, individualism, republicanism, populism and laissez-faire.[3] This ideology itself is often referred to as "American exceptionalism."[3]"

I'm not always in favor of America's overseas use of those claws, but I'm damn glad we were provoked to resist the Hun (as Churchill called him/them) and Imperial Japan.

(though I imagine Japan, knowing Oz was armed-to-the-teeth, would have stopped short of your north coast)

And I'm glad that we resisted the Soviets on many fronts - and that the cold war never got "hot".

(I don't fancy having to learn Russian nor Cyrillic)

It's interesting to me that much of the world has adpoted some form of constitutional republic since 1789 - with more than lip-service toward natural rights. That's historically exceptional - if the various governmental forms and flavors resemble (the UK) there's no need to call it Austrialian, British, American, or any other modifier - except perhaps "civilized".

I presume you and I were born breathing the oxygen of liberty - so may may not readily notice how historically and properly exceptional our way of life is - but I occasionally try to pay respectful thanks to our political progenitors.

Cheers, off to go drinking with some pals....more
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Oct 25, 2013 05:55PM

TrevorI'm off on holidays soon for about a week - I've no idea what internet access I will have so if I go quiet that is most likely the reason.
Oct 25, 2013 05:58PM

This book is a TOTAL eye-opener about how we're taught cultural prejudices and distorted American history through classroom textbooks. I mean, I'm pretty liberal, but the perspective of this author totally opened my eyes to things that I just took for granted about how our history was founded, about people we deify who were not the gods we simplify them into being, like Christopher Columbus and the Pilgrims, etc, and how racial inequality and sexual inequality is subtly established in the text iThis book is a TOTAL eye-opener about how we're taught cultural prejudices and distorted American history through classroom textbooks. I mean, I'm pretty liberal, but the perspective of this author totally opened my eyes to things that I just took for granted about how our history was founded, about people we deify who were not the gods we simplify them into being, like Christopher Columbus and the Pilgrims, etc, and how racial inequality and sexual inequality is subtly established in the text in ways that you never would notice unless they're pointed out for you.

I really recommend this as a way of seeing things with different eyes, really interesting and worth picking up!!...more

Why does nobody like high school history? Or civics, or social studies, or whatever they're calling it these days. Why does pretty much everybody hate this class? I mean, you have people who can memorize irrelevant sporting statistics for the last fifty years, but they can't name more than two nineteenth-century presidents.

The author of this book, a teacher and researcher of history, started looking into this. He'd found among his high school and college students an appalling level of ignoranceWhy does nobody like high school history? Or civics, or social studies, or whatever they're calling it these days. Why does pretty much everybody hate this class? I mean, you have people who can memorize irrelevant sporting statistics for the last fifty years, but they can't name more than two nineteenth-century presidents.

The author of this book, a teacher and researcher of history, started looking into this. He'd found among his high school and college students an appalling level of ignorance in basic American history. So, he decided to try and figure out what went wrong and why.

His conclusion? Textbooks. The textbooks that we use in American history classes are simplistic, dry and patronizing, aimed not at teaching the students about the rich epic that is American history, but rather at reinforcing what they already believe to be true: America is a great place, and it's just getting greater.

Loewen has a lot of bones to pick with the history texts, but he limits himself here to ten. He looks at things like heroification, social biases, omission of the underclass and so on. With twelve common texts to draw upon, he tries to see what they omit and what they include, and he is shocked and appalled.

The primary sin of American history textbooks, he believes, is a lack of conflict. They present our history as a series of semi-benign events that all turned out okay in the end. These were not things that we (the government, a president, society) did, they were things that just happened. There is no causality, no emotion, no contradiction. Nothing ever leads to anything else, and none of it certainly is reflected in modern times. And so what is left is a bright-eyed, doped up view of America, where everything is just fine, and whatever may happen in the future, we'll get through that as well.

His position is that if we could teach history properly, as a continuum that affects us even now, it would be more interesting. If we showed the contradictions and the unpleasantness, we could teach students to think critically and, in turn, be better citizens. The cynic in me, of course, immediately thinks, "Well, no one wants that!"

He does try to offer solutions, things that a good textbook should do - focus on fewer topics, offer a broader view, and force students to work outside the text, for example - but he also acknowledges that it's not nearly as easy as it sounds. One of the reasons why history texts have to be so bland and inoffensive is because they have to be. If the subject matter is too controversial, the economic implications could be catastrophic. Too much focus on Black achievement during the Reconstruction? Southern schools won't buy your book. Not enough focus on the achievements of women? Say hello to NOW, you'll be hearing from them a lot. For every page and every paragraph, there's some parent, teacher, administrator, student, or just plan nutjob who might take offense, and so the solution is to be as inoffensive as possible. And in a country where people get very offended very quickly, I can see how textbook publishers might find it easier just to give up and put out the same crap edition after edition.

It's a tough problem to solve, and Loewen admits that he doesn't really have the solution. All he can really do is shine a light on the problem, and hope that we can figure it out. Because history is essential to knowing what to do with the future of America. And, of course, the rest of the world.......more

OntayUugh...well yea it's supposed to prove something. Looks like you made this comment before reading the "first 150 pages". Look's like someone judged aUugh...well yea it's supposed to prove something. Looks like you made this comment before reading the "first 150 pages". Look's like someone judged a book by it's cover! Lol!...more
Jul 06, 2013 01:28AM

KevinJesse has it correctly. The point is not to present any case other than that the American history taught in textbooks is incorrect. If corrected dataJesse has it correctly. The point is not to present any case other than that the American history taught in textbooks is incorrect. If corrected data happen to make one party look worse, maybe it's worth looking at who wrote the inaccurate information down?

We rightfully condemn the Japanese and Chinese for censoring their histories, why would we support it here in the US?...more
Jul 30, 2014 09:27AM

When I started this book, I thought it would be along the lines of "your teacher told you this...but this is what happened..." You know like "hey columbus didn't discover the new world...blah blah blah" and there was some of that.

But more importantly, and far more interestingly, this book is an indictment of how American history is taught. As the book went forward, even I found myself thinking "yep, that's what I was taught" and wondering if I would have found American history less boring had itWhen I started this book, I thought it would be along the lines of "your teacher told you this...but this is what happened..." You know like "hey columbus didn't discover the new world...blah blah blah" and there was some of that.

But more importantly, and far more interestingly, this book is an indictment of how American history is taught. As the book went forward, even I found myself thinking "yep, that's what I was taught" and wondering if I would have found American history less boring had it been as filled with flawed characters as European.

Most of my European history comes from books. I read a lot. Starting with Garrett Mattingly, which is not a bad way to start. Mattingly doesn't sugar coat. And when European history is taught, teachers don't have the same pressures to heroify (this is kind of a word http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_her...) Europeans as Americans. Instead we go "oh those silly pesky Europeans..." With our own leaders, we are taught to rever them. Even the most obvious example of the sainthood of Washington. Not saying he wasn't a good person, but he was also a real person.

The book argues that if students were taught that you can be flawed and conflicted AND change the world, how much more inspiring would that story be. Instead only those who go forward in American history (and for the most part that doesn't include me) learn the shadows in the heroes.

But this is simply annoying compared to ethnic-bias that pervades the teaching of American history. I found myself just saddened when I read example after example of things that I had been taught, and how it was inherently racist. And I'm not just talking about the Civil War. I could give examples, but I'm seriously struggling with which to choose. There are simply too many.

This book is not a fun read full of "neat facts" about history--it's more than that, much more. I was in turns angered, saddened, and ashamed by what passes off as teaching history. Not only are we taught incorrect information, but we are taught in such a way that assures us it will be found boring.

This was a wonderful and thought-provoking book. I'm better for having read it. ...more

As a history major in college, I still have an affinity for the subject. This book was very interesting, because it challenged many of the things we were all taught in the American educational system.It's a real eye opener, and while you may have a superficial knowledge of some of the events and trends that we were never taught,or taught in such a way that the real issues were glossed over, this book delves into them in depth. I would highly recommend this book, even if you are not into history.

1. That it is not weird that I hated history/social studies in high school, but now find it interesting.

2. That textbook "authors" can't be bothered to do their own research, so all the textbooks tell the same apocryphal stories (George Washington and the cherry tree, the first Thanksgiving, Columbus as all-round good guy, the US as "international good-guy peacekeeper, with NO ulterior motives), making every factoid on every page suspect.

3. That our history is fWhat I learned from this textbook:

1. That it is not weird that I hated history/social studies in high school, but now find it interesting.

2. That textbook "authors" can't be bothered to do their own research, so all the textbooks tell the same apocryphal stories (George Washington and the cherry tree, the first Thanksgiving, Columbus as all-round good guy, the US as "international good-guy peacekeeper, with NO ulterior motives), making every factoid on every page suspect.

3. That our history is far richer and more interesting than any one book (including this one) can possibly tell, so relying on a single book to teach a class like this is setting everyone, teacher and student alike, up for failure.

4. That while history is based on facts, the interpretation of those facts really does constantly change, and how we learn about them is based on previous societal changes. It is up to every student and teacher to separate fact from interpretation, and then to apply their own interpretation as needed. A discussion of slavery and Reconstruction written by a privileged European-American before the Civil Rights movement will not carry much water if read critically instead of just read to memorize the factoids for the test.

5. That our leaders have learned from the past and are applying its lessons to the present and the future:

"Of course the people do not want war....But, after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine the policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, a fascist dictatorship, a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is tell them that they are being attacked and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism." - German Field Marshall Hermann Goering, Nuremberg, April 18, 1946

Read this book, now. Then go out, and read more books, preferably primary and secondary sources, which tell the actual story, and include the controversies that still remain, both in ascribing motives to the people who made history, but also the controversies in interpreting what the facts actually mean, both for the present and the future....more

The thesis of the book is interesting and well supported, however, I found it pretty dry which was disappointing considering a main point Loewen makes is that Middle School/High School History books are too boring. He goes into too much depth in the first two chapters making the same point over and over again, while quickly and concisely exploring more current history, which again is the same criticism he makes of the textbooks he attacks. I also thing the extreme liberal tone of the book took aThe thesis of the book is interesting and well supported, however, I found it pretty dry which was disappointing considering a main point Loewen makes is that Middle School/High School History books are too boring. He goes into too much depth in the first two chapters making the same point over and over again, while quickly and concisely exploring more current history, which again is the same criticism he makes of the textbooks he attacks. I also thing the extreme liberal tone of the book took away from the authors credibility and it would have been more successful without his unnecessary bashing conservatives. Despite my criticism I found the book very thought provoking and relevant. I would love to see Loewen included a comparison of how the same "history" is taught in different countries providing support with passages from different textbooks in France and Germany during WWII for instance....more

Without question, this is the greatest non-fiction book I have ever read. To illustrate that claim, let me highlight that it served, in large part, as the inspiration for my master's thesis.

In it, Loewen, a college professor, is constantly frustrated by how little his young, incoming freshmen know about history. So, in the late 90s he wrote a scathing investigation of the most common history textbooks used in secondary classes. He details how poorly these textbooks link events, leaving studentsWithout question, this is the greatest non-fiction book I have ever read. To illustrate that claim, let me highlight that it served, in large part, as the inspiration for my master's thesis.

In it, Loewen, a college professor, is constantly frustrated by how little his young, incoming freshmen know about history. So, in the late 90s he wrote a scathing investigation of the most common history textbooks used in secondary classes. He details how poorly these textbooks link events, leaving students with little idea how one occurrence causes another. But more importantly, he decries how much these textbooks turn historical figures into heroes, rather than actual human beings. As a few examples: Abraham Lincoln's private journal makes it apparent that he did not emancipate slaves because he thought slavery immoral, but because he thought it economically unmanageable; Hellen Keller, a committed Socialist, did not believe anyone could improve their station in life if they worked hard enough, which is of course the lesson her childhood is supposed to teach us; and Woodrow Wilson was a rabid rascist and a member of the Ku Klux Klan. But these truths are never taught to secondary students, for reasons that are at best ineffectual.

Loewen could not be more brutal in his assessment of secondary school's historical lessons. And he, and this book, will forever be one of my models as I continue teaching. I would encourage any and everyone to read this book; more than any other source, it will help you become a better American citizen. ...more

JoshI'll look for them tomorrow and let you know if I find them. If not, maybe I can arrange locating a copy of the book itself. I've always wanted to ownI'll look for them tomorrow and let you know if I find them. If not, maybe I can arrange locating a copy of the book itself. I've always wanted to own it anyway, especially since it's the real onset for my master's project. ...more
Dec 09, 2009 06:58PM

Lies My Teacher Told Me is a well-written and insightful expose of some of the problems inherent in the teaching of US History in public schools. From outdated textbooks to gross distortions of basic events and major figures, Loewen exposes readers to a side of US History that most do not get in high school. However, I had a problem with some of his methodology. His survey of 12 textbooks didn't seem like enough to make a truly damning critique of education in the country. In addition, his judgmLies My Teacher Told Me is a well-written and insightful expose of some of the problems inherent in the teaching of US History in public schools. From outdated textbooks to gross distortions of basic events and major figures, Loewen exposes readers to a side of US History that most do not get in high school. However, I had a problem with some of his methodology. His survey of 12 textbooks didn't seem like enough to make a truly damning critique of education in the country. In addition, his judgments are too broad. While the textbooks may get things wrong, he acts as though education is nothing more than reading textbooks and parroting back the information found in them. This sort of viewing leaves out the crucial element of teacher involvement. One of the books he reviewed was used in my US History class but our teacher avoided the obsolete and incorrect mistruths our book contained. An interesting read but not enough to condemn the whole system....more

Mary JLI agree that there is much more that could be done to improve our knowledge of history; but as you point out, the entire system is NOT wrong. There arI agree that there is much more that could be done to improve our knowledge of history; but as you point out, the entire system is NOT wrong. There are many, good, hardworking history teachers out there trying to give as balanced a picture as they can....more
May 29, 2010 05:18AM

VirginiaWhich is why he dedicated the book to "teachers who teach against their textbooks." I think the point of the book is that these types of teachers youWhich is why he dedicated the book to "teachers who teach against their textbooks." I think the point of the book is that these types of teachers you guys are mentioning (hardworking, trying to be balanced) are far and few between. For the vast majority of students, what the textbook gives is ALL they get. Just because a few teachers are able to think outside the textbook box & actually care to get their students to think for themselves, does not mean the schooling system as a whole is not worth condemning. I don't think Loewen was saying this anyway. That is a topic for another discussion. If you want to join that particular discussion, see the comment section for any book by John Taylor Gatto....more
Nov 03, 2013 03:25PM

GREAT title! Really makes you think about all those HS History Classes you sat through and wondered what they were leaving out of the discussion. For example: how come we never discussed Vietnam? History magically "ended" at WWII; we always assumed that it just coinsided with the end of the school year (oops - "no time" to discuss anything after! Have a good summer kids!). This book really explores how the top 10 American History Textbooks taught in 95% of American High Schools present readers wGREAT title! Really makes you think about all those HS History Classes you sat through and wondered what they were leaving out of the discussion. For example: how come we never discussed Vietnam? History magically "ended" at WWII; we always assumed that it just coinsided with the end of the school year (oops - "no time" to discuss anything after! Have a good summer kids!). This book really explores how the top 10 American History Textbooks taught in 95% of American High Schools present readers with the "feel-good" versions of American History, and how the not-so-pretty parts of American History (such as slavery, treatment of Native Americans, the gilded age, immigration, etc) that greatly affected (and still affect) the American population are glossed over or presented as "not so bad" as they truly were.

JoanImmigration discussed in today's classroom...that's a good one! I predict skyrocketing expultions from fights if that were ever to be allowed to be diImmigration discussed in today's classroom...that's a good one! I predict skyrocketing expultions from fights if that were ever to be allowed to be discussed or taught. Not to mention the ALCU's neurotransmitters aren't equipped to handle the kind of workload that would more than likely result from "violations" that the offended would assert have been forced upon them in the name of education. ...more
Dec 29, 2008 07:16AM

BrandyYour comment about the end of the school year and "no more time to discuss, enjoy your summer, kids!" made me giggle. That's how it was, alright.
Jul 16, 2013 08:18AM

This biggest reason I'm rating this book so high is that it was so thought-provoking. Loewen reviewed 12 common American history textbooks and analyzed the content based on historical accuracy and bias. Unsurprisingly, they all presented a very sanitized and rosy view of American history. His argument is that most of the textbooks in use 1. are very Euro-centric, marginalizing minorities (especially african americans and native americans); 2. "heroify" major historical figures so much that theyThis biggest reason I'm rating this book so high is that it was so thought-provoking. Loewen reviewed 12 common American history textbooks and analyzed the content based on historical accuracy and bias. Unsurprisingly, they all presented a very sanitized and rosy view of American history. His argument is that most of the textbooks in use 1. are very Euro-centric, marginalizing minorities (especially african americans and native americans); 2. "heroify" major historical figures so much that they ignore any faults or human characteristics; 3. extinguish the possibility of critical thinking by avoiding controversy; 4. rely so much on memorization that students cram for tests and then purge their minds of the information to make room for the facts in the next chapter; 5. are factually inaccurate, because they regurgitate info from old textbooks without sourcing new historical research 6. Exclude primary sources... and there are probably some more important points that I'm forgetting.

I agree with most of these conclusions, but to prove them, Loewen was a bit extreme in the opposite direction. To prove his point, the book ended up presenting a very sensationalized version of American history, because he was including only the worst examples of our past, to show what was excluded. By the end, I was exhausted.

Ultimately, I finished the book realizing that I have a lot of gaps to fill in my knowledge of American history, especially in the recent past. Although I already realized that there it is impossible to write an unbiased history, it's made me more aware of how to study history more objectively and review my sources more critically.

In LMTTM, sociology professor James Loewen takes a close look at the subject of American history and why it is that high school students tend not just to loathe the subject but also come out of that class so badly informed. His verdict - the textbooks are to blame.

In the 1992 version of this book, Loewen took a close look at the 12 most widely used history textbooks and discovered that their true purpose was less to educate American students about the entirety of their history but instead to accIn LMTTM, sociology professor James Loewen takes a close look at the subject of American history and why it is that high school students tend not just to loathe the subject but also come out of that class so badly informed. His verdict - the textbooks are to blame.

In the 1992 version of this book, Loewen took a close look at the 12 most widely used history textbooks and discovered that their true purpose was less to educate American students about the entirety of their history but instead to accomplish the following: to present events in such a way as to prevent students from feeling bad about the less than sterling actions of our ancestors; to create polished heroic images of major historical figures untarnished by any hint of human complexity, to formulate the idea of perpetual progress, thus diminishing the students awareness of still existing societal inequities; to include every possible factoid that might make the book more appealing to people in various locations, and most importantly, to completely avoid offending any group that might have the power to prevent the textbook's adoption and thus diminish sales.

The net result of this are tombs that are both mind-numbingly dull and exceedingly incomplete. Loewen does his best to correct the latter by highlighting in gruesome detail the horrors of our past left out of these books, from the brutal enslavement of the natives by Columbian explorers to the explosion of racist suppression of blacks after the Civil war to the nefarious actions of a government that is all too often acting at the behest of special interests rather than its wider citizenry.

In addressing facts such as the ownership of slaves by the founding fathers and the overt racism of Woodrow Wilson, Loewen points out what students of literature have always known - complex, conflicted humans make for far more interesting subjects than one-dimensional superheros. Yet in neglecting to discuss the shadow sides of both our history and the people within it, our textbooks give the idea that history is a set of boring facts to be learned and perfect heroes to be emulated rather than a perpetually evolving compilation of interlocking and often conflicting ideas and the people who struggle with them. By denying students the ability to see history in this way, textbooks also deny them the ability to learn how to consider competing ideas, analyze the strengths and weaknesses of each, and in the process, discover how to think for themselves.

At a time when so much of America seems to have lost touch with even the most basic facts of the present let alone the distant past, Loewen's book is incredibly important for anyone not just interested in our nation's past but also in its future.

That said, however, this is not an easy book to read. In striving to provide balance to the mindless positive propaganda of our textbooks, Loewen dives so deep into the most horrible aspects of the American past I found this book often hard to stomach. It's not that I was unfamiliar with the basic atrocities he presents (though I did learn a great deal I hadn't known before), but the fact that he presents them in such a relentless litany, with only a passing reference to anything positive about America, left even a good liberal like me feeling starved to hear SOMETHING positive about my country. After reading this book, I can imagine how incredibly fascinating and stimulating a history book that included both the good and the bad sides of America would be and how far it would go in enabling the US citizenry to make better decisions about our future, but this is unfortunately not that book.

I read the 2007 edition, which addressed changes that have been made in the 15 years since the original came out. Though some minor improvements have been made, the current dent in the problem is minor compared to the size of it, particularly at a time when right-wing fundamentalists on Texas textbook adoption boards are wielding such a huge influence on what will and won't get read by students in the rest of the country. Until the textbook Loewen envisions has been written, this will remain a crucial counterbalance to conventional American history....more

“Finally, frustrated, the interviewer asked, ‘Isn’t there any one essential ingredient that you can identify?’

Hemingway replied, ‘Yes, there is. In order to be a great writer a person must have a built-in, shockproof crap detector.”...more
May 15, 2011 07:17AM

Mysterious BunnyI agree with what Trevor says about the way history is taught in Australia.

I had a stark epiphany when I was visiting Sydney Cove one summer. I imaginI agree with what Trevor says about the way history is taught in Australia.

I had a stark epiphany when I was visiting Sydney Cove one summer. I imagined what it must have been like to see the tall ships land on that fateful day, long ago. At school we were always taught how the Aborigines were in awe of the white explorers 'because they wore hats and the Aborigines thought that these were a part of the white man's head, making him a God'

This from a race of people with its own ceremonial traditions and clothing (including headgear)? A race that was already divided into many diverse tribes, that knew exactly how to survive in one of the most inhospitable environments on the planet?

It took until I became an adult to realize that the history I was taught in school might possibly have been bullshit....more
May 15, 2011 09:42AM

It is all well and fine for people to criticize historians for being snobs about who writes the history books... but this book is a great example of what goes wrong when non-historians try to write history. Everything in this book is taken out of context - and is therefore at best skewed and at worst just wrong. Context is everything. Nothing happens in a vacuum; historical events out of context are just stories - and usually not very good ones at that.

Antof9Jesse, no one in this thread (that I can see) says "it's not reasonable to criticize racists if a majority of people are racists". I thought Shelly'sJesse, no one in this thread (that I can see) says "it's not reasonable to criticize racists if a majority of people are racists". I thought Shelly's comment was perfectly clear on that (and was glad she wrote that, actually). She and Deena both are saying that the story needs to be told in context, if you will. If I may extrapolate; history needs to be told in totality. To understand and learn from it, we need to know what was happening; not just the recounting of an event. I liked the way Deena wrote it in her review: "Nothing happens in a vacuum; historical events out of context are just stories - and usually not very good ones at that."...more
May 20, 2013 03:37PM

OntayA couple of you are commenting and haven't read the book. If you bring some sort of heavy bias while reading this you aren't going to like it. AnybodyA couple of you are commenting and haven't read the book. If you bring some sort of heavy bias while reading this you aren't going to like it. Anybody that reads knows the premise of this book is true without reading it. Give it a shot! I am....more
Jul 06, 2013 01:33AM

First of all, I'm not an American and was not put through the American school system, which means I have no first hand experience of the standard of history teaching referred to by James Loewen. I'm British and count myself extremely fortunate to have attended a very good school at home.

Secondly, I am aware that history in many countries is twisted a little for either feelgood or nationalist purposes, depending on how you choose toBefore I get into this review, a couple of disclaimers, if I may.

First of all, I'm not an American and was not put through the American school system, which means I have no first hand experience of the standard of history teaching referred to by James Loewen. I'm British and count myself extremely fortunate to have attended a very good school at home.

Secondly, I am aware that history in many countries is twisted a little for either feelgood or nationalist purposes, depending on how you choose to view these distortions. British history is not taught in a particularly balanced fashion in the UK, especially with regard to more modern issues such as the Irish 'troubles'.

That said, I am aware of some of the appalling atrocities committed by the England and then the British down the years. I know, for example, of the pogrom against the Jews of York in that city's castle in 1190, and that one of the reasons for this was the debt a local noble owed and did not wish to pay. I know that Oliver Cromwell's invasion of Ireland was a disgustingly bloody affair and that much more recently indefensible acts have been carried out in that country in the name of the United Kingdom. I could go on with British actions in India, for example, much of Africa, or even initial English colonisation efforts in North America, but the point has been made: we should know of these things and we do.

In America, it would seem, teaching the past failings of the state and its people is a no-no, leaving a populace unable to critically consider how it came to be where it is now and often in possession of a history which is simply not true. Loewen points out with exceptional lucidity such examples as Columbus who, American textbooks claim, sailed west, discovered the Americas and found that the world was not, after all, flat. The previous sentence can only be said to be true if it ends 'sailed west'. He most certainly did not discover the Americas - which were populated when he arrived - and sailors had known for centuries that the earth was curved - a ship's hull disappearing over the horizon before its sails will tell anyone that

Loewen does not simply stick to disabusing us of the simple untruths of history, however. He viciously, and quite rightly, attacks coverage of Woodrow Wilson, a white supremacist who interfered in the affairs of other nations, often creating long term problems both locally and for America itself, by continually launching invasions of other states; most recent American interventions in Iran and Lebanon, which have created sectarian and political issues in those countries; and even the Vietnam War, portrayed as a moral intervention when it most certainly was not.

What Loewen is at pains to point out, and what he covers so well, is that the books that are used to teach Americans about how they came to be where they are today paint government after government as lily-white, and their 'mistakes' as misunderstandings. Wrongful executions, the napalming of vast swathes of jungle in Vietnam and Laos, continued attempts to assassinate Fidel Castro and many other unforgivable horrors - all are either painted as the unfortunate errors of a nation striving to do right, or otherwise totally ignored as inconvenient.

'Lies My Teacher Told Me' is a damning indictment of how American high school students are taught about their country. Thoroughly researched and bursting with cutting, to the point arguments, if James Loewen's work has not yet brought about a change in an education system run by interest groups then it's about time it did. America is not alone in distorting its history beyond recognition - Russians are taught a version of history so far from the truth it should not be called history at all - but for a country which would like to pride itself on openness and progress, Loewen asks questions which demand answers....more

i think the author has a great overall point. especially since my mom is navajo and was raised as a baby in tuba city, az. but c'mon. does anyone out there still believe the shite printed during the cold war anyway?

some of the examples in the book are pure sensationalistic crap. that's ok, it's no worse than the religious right's crap and in this case much more interesting and less mystical.

i find it just as hard to bite at each 'fact' given in this book when the authorgreat cocktail fodder.

i think the author has a great overall point. especially since my mom is navajo and was raised as a baby in tuba city, az. but c'mon. does anyone out there still believe the shite printed during the cold war anyway?

some of the examples in the book are pure sensationalistic crap. that's ok, it's no worse than the religious right's crap and in this case much more interesting and less mystical.

i find it just as hard to bite at each 'fact' given in this book when the author has in fact written it 'in penance' for missing the civil rights movement. hey, tell it to your priest...er....whoever. sets the tone right off for some extreme bias.

Yep. it's a fun read and will result in many lively debates over dinner. i thought it would be more modern and intellectual....more

This is a book I assigned my students. It is not easy reading, but informative. The one aspect of the book that I found unnecessary was the author's recount of exactly which high school history textbooks get which facts right, or which they leave out. Overall, this text uncovers aspects of American history that many of us don't know. For example, I associated President Woodward Wilson with being involved in the founding of the League of Nations. I didn't know that Wilson was a white supremacistThis is a book I assigned my students. It is not easy reading, but informative. The one aspect of the book that I found unnecessary was the author's recount of exactly which high school history textbooks get which facts right, or which they leave out. Overall, this text uncovers aspects of American history that many of us don't know. For example, I associated President Woodward Wilson with being involved in the founding of the League of Nations. I didn't know that Wilson was a white supremacist who tried (but failed) to ban African Americans from many government jobs, but did manage to segregate federal jobs. There are reasons that many secondary school students find history deadly. Instead of delving in-depth into understanding historical periods and the context of events, students often are required to memorize names and dates. The reasons for this go beyond a plot by the "haves" and publishing companies to keep students from learning more controversial parts of American history. While that is one reason, there are also competing values at play as well as stakeholders with different interests, such as ideas about the goals of education and teaching American history. Is the goal to develop students' pride in their nation, and foster patriotism? Well for some segments of American society, it is. Do we want to protect students from some of the more traumatic parts of our history? That can be a reason for both teachers and parents. African American parents may be concerned about their young children learning some of the more tragic aspects of Black history. More conservative parties may choose to describe westward expansion as American progress, but few American Indians would view the lose of their lands, way of life, and the majority of their people, as progress. By sticking to a bland version of American history, we avoid controversy (as well as critical thinking). One may ask why the inquiry approach that was developed in the 1970's did not stick. Well in addition to the many pressures students and teachers may feel now to pass a growing number of high stakes tests, teachers simply don't have the time to do the research and work required for this kind of teaching in most schools. Ironically, the author writes, while public school students are subjected to a deadening brand of history that may suppress many aspects of US history that could be controversial, and critical of our government, students of better off parents, attending private schools, are more likely to be exposed to a wide range of American history, even though it is more critical of their socio-economic class. This is the type of history, the author argues could elevate students of traditionally marginalized groups - Latino, Black, American Indian and immigrant students. I read the first 200 pages but had to finish the remaining 40% of the book in less than a week. So I got the audiobook and found it pretty good listening....more

Wonderful read for students of American History and sociologists. Loewen conducted a fabulous study of American History textbooks in the late 80s and early 90s. What he found was a narrative lacking much depth, diversity, and frankly, any excitement. He was right. Most texts still adhered to the "great white father's" narrative of American history that our parents and grandparents learned throughout the 20th century. Much of American history, from Columbus to Lincoln to Vietnam and anything in bWonderful read for students of American History and sociologists. Loewen conducted a fabulous study of American History textbooks in the late 80s and early 90s. What he found was a narrative lacking much depth, diversity, and frankly, any excitement. He was right. Most texts still adhered to the "great white father's" narrative of American history that our parents and grandparents learned throughout the 20th century. Much of American history, from Columbus to Lincoln to Vietnam and anything in between, had been written in terms of black and white. There were heroes vs villains, Presidents vs rebels, democracy triumphing over everything else, America the beautiful leading the rest of the world to a better life...to freedom. There was very little of the gray area that makes history so interesting and so real. Life is not black and white, and neither is history. Loewen points out the missing gray areas. The racial tensions, the terrible treatment of native americans, the flawed human being behind the President, etc. This is what our teachers didn't tell us, but should. These are the stories that provoke discussion, thought, and understanding... better tools that hero worship, or President or General worship as teh case may be. These are the stories Loewen encourages authors to add to the textbooks.

Since the publication of this book, much of the textbook narrative of American history has finally caught up to historical scholarship. This is still an important read and a useful one. It forces you to think about the way that our history is told and literally constructed by those who write the textbooks and disperse the information. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in American history and as a teacher, I found Loewen's perspective invaluable....more

Whatever you had learned in your high school textbooks and college textbooks probably were presented to you in carefully modified forms. Truths were distorted to make facts look pretty. For example, Woodrow Wilson was a very racist president but in fact most textbooks never had written to present that ugly side of our dear president. All I can say is that this book is super controversial book; if you ever going to pick up this book for a good read, just prepare to be offending somewhat due to alWhatever you had learned in your high school textbooks and college textbooks probably were presented to you in carefully modified forms. Truths were distorted to make facts look pretty. For example, Woodrow Wilson was a very racist president but in fact most textbooks never had written to present that ugly side of our dear president. All I can say is that this book is super controversial book; if you ever going to pick up this book for a good read, just prepare to be offending somewhat due to all of the contradictions to what you have ever learned in your life about the known history....more

Great book! Explains why I got such bad grades in US History... The teacher did not pay attention (rather chose not to) when I pointed out what we were being taight did not match what I'd been taught in Europe.. It is appalling to read all the lies students in the US are being fed on a daily basis. Text books are slanted to make them appear the hero in every situation; this book uncovers a bit of the nonsense.

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong should be required reading starting at the elementary level, studied again at the middle school level, and truly taught as analytical thinking at the high school level all four years.

As a kid I hated American History because it never sounded like truth. The History books I was required to read did not teach history, they taught how superior the European white men were over all other cultures. What was mentioned about NLies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong should be required reading starting at the elementary level, studied again at the middle school level, and truly taught as analytical thinking at the high school level all four years.

As a kid I hated American History because it never sounded like truth. The History books I was required to read did not teach history, they taught how superior the European white men were over all other cultures. What was mentioned about Natives Americans cast them in a negative light and there was no mention of the contributions of Blacks and even as a child I realized the book in front of me was an one-sided view of History and a one sided view is no history at all!

Lies My Teach Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong teaches us how racism and white entitlement will continue as long as accurate History isn’t taught.

This book was published in 1996, before elementary schools had computers, before Wikipedia was the starting point for every high-schooler's research paper, before life as we now know it began. But, my history classes were taught from books published before 1996, and my teachers were educated before then. If it weren't for my need to read-all-things-published, my exposure to history might have ended where most Americans does, at graduation.

Loewen spent a decade reviewing 12 popular high school hThis book was published in 1996, before elementary schools had computers, before Wikipedia was the starting point for every high-schooler's research paper, before life as we now know it began. But, my history classes were taught from books published before 1996, and my teachers were educated before then. If it weren't for my need to read-all-things-published, my exposure to history might have ended where most Americans does, at graduation.

Loewen spent a decade reviewing 12 popular high school history textbooks, and published his findings. He makes a fair case for the idea that our history books don't tell the whole story, and in some cases, don't tell the truth.

If you graduated from high school longer than 10 years ago, you'll be as fascinated as I was to learn the dark side of our national heros. Yes, I knew Jefferson owned slaves, but I didn't know Betsy Ross didn't sew the flag, and I didn't know there was a plague that wiped out an entire tribe leaving only Squanto to help the Pilgrims plant that corn, and I didn't know Pilgrim was a made-up term. As a matter of fact, there was a lot I didn't know ...

Worth picking up if you're remotely interested in US History, or in education, or have children.

UPDATE: After reading the first 150 pages, now I just sorta have this book on my shelf and pick it up from time to time.

This book is very good on a few levels ... It takes the textbook publishers to task for their weak glossing over of American history, and it emphasizes the use of primary documents, which are important and often underutilized by lame teachers. It is also (verbosely) summarizes some very valid criticisms of the general treatment textbooks and by extension, some high school teachUPDATE: After reading the first 150 pages, now I just sorta have this book on my shelf and pick it up from time to time.

This book is very good on a few levels ... It takes the textbook publishers to task for their weak glossing over of American history, and it emphasizes the use of primary documents, which are important and often underutilized by lame teachers. It is also (verbosely) summarizes some very valid criticisms of the general treatment textbooks and by extension, some high school teachers on a handful of touchy subjects in American history.

However, it is not what it purports to be, it is not new or unusual, and had it been titled appropriately, this book would have been relegated to the back of the store in the "teacher handbooks."

"Lies My Teacher Told Me," comes across as revealing the "controversial issues" that these damn liars across America are foisting on our children. Please.

Does ANYBODY teach that Christopher Columbus was a godlike hero?

Do our high schools really teach that the inhabitants of North America when the Pilgrims landed were noble savages, few and far between, and that the Europeans were simply arriving to assume control of a continent that was virtually empty and ready for the taking ... And the Manifest Destiny march of conquest was merely inevitable and might makes right, and all that rot?

These are the first three examples, taking up 110 of the 330 "Thanks-to-me-teachers-will-now-know-how-to-teach-U.S. History" pages. I don't disagree with most of what he says... That textbooks are too conservative, and that we need more current scholarship with some Howard Zinn and Ray Raphael mixed in... Yay.

But Loewen is just so caught up in his quantifiable study of textbooks, he's operating under the ridiculously flawed assumption that all teachers do is hand out the big, fat textbook and go to sleep. And that's boring to kids! Well, yeah.

The book has value and is interesting in many places, such as the 350th Anniversary of The First Thanksgiving in Massachusetts, when in 1970 the state department of commerce asked the Wampanoags to select a speaker. When Frank James was selected, and he had to show his speech to the white people, he was not allowed to read it, because it was not celebratory enough. That's fascinating, but that seems to fit in with one of Loewen's other books, "Lies Across America." It truly has nothing to do with "Lies my teacher told me," or even "Everything your American history textbook got wrong," which is the subtitle to this book.

I'm still reading. I have set it aside because most of what he writes is self-congratulatory crap that suggests that he's informing the nation's mass of ignorant, fib-telling, morally bankrupt educators (who are probably being protected by that damn socialist teachers union). He's not. He's a retired former college sociology teacher who has ostensibly found a nice retirement income ("From the first day," he writes breathlessly in the introduction to the second edition, "the readers made 'Lies' a success.")

Actually, I would submit that the biggest lie involved is that this guy is telling the country what goes on in history classroms. He's right that textbooks generally gloss over anything that doesn't present America as the "land of opportunity," and venerate the regular cast of heroes... But the textbooks are invariably bought by schoolboards, not the teachers. Maybe that's what he should have written this book about, but that would not have been nearly as sexy.

Another thought: Why didn't this presumed wrong-righter choose to spend some time writing a really good, fair, accurate textbook? Oh, well, because tha would have been too hard, almost impossible (consider that he takes 330 pafes to touch upon 8-9 topics...). And besides, he'd have never made any money the way he has by jumping on the "teachers suck" bandwagon along with people who have a completely different and much more damaging agenda than his own.

I suspect that the amazingly and purposefully inaccurate title was not part of his original idea ... This is primarily an indictment of textbooks, not teachers, but somebody must have told him how sales could skyrocket if he throws teachers under the bus in the title -- "even teachers will buy it out of self-defense!" That's why I bought it... I'm just glad I got it on sale....more

SarahMy high school was in a small, conservative town in Texas. History was typically taught by coaches, who, quite frankly, cared more about the sports thMy high school was in a small, conservative town in Texas. History was typically taught by coaches, who, quite frankly, cared more about the sports they coached, than the classes they taught. I'm not saying all coaches are bad teachers of course, I had a coach for honors biology in 9th grade who was phenomenal, but the coaches I had for history courses never seemed to care. I like to think that this has changed, since I graduated high school 11 years ago, but I'm almost willing to bet that it hasn't....more
Mar 30, 2013 11:18AM

Erika Sadly I can say that by my experience, yes that is what is taught by many. If the teacher doesn't care to teach or believes it all themselves, then itSadly I can say that by my experience, yes that is what is taught by many. If the teacher doesn't care to teach or believes it all themselves, then it's entirely possible. I knew that a lot of what is written in these textbooks was whitewashed because I read a lot. If you're a kid who doesn't like reading or learning, well... You can imagine that this is exactly what they would end up thinking....more
Aug 06, 2014 09:00AM

Did your teacher or college professor ever tell you that Christopher Columbus is not really the hero we all thought, and responsible for genicide of a million people in Haiti, as he "claimed" that territory for Spain? Did you know that Helen Keller was a communist and fought for a socialist America throughout her lifetime, risking charges of treason? Did you know American Indians died off in droves from diseases Europeans brought over on theiThis was an EYE-OPENING look at REAL American History.

Did your teacher or college professor ever tell you that Christopher Columbus is not really the hero we all thought, and responsible for genicide of a million people in Haiti, as he "claimed" that territory for Spain? Did you know that Helen Keller was a communist and fought for a socialist America throughout her lifetime, risking charges of treason? Did you know American Indians died off in droves from diseases Europeans brought over on their explorations? Or that Jamestown was ALREADY settled by American Indians when the Smiths came over in 1620, yet conquered it and claimed THEY settled it? Other topics discussed: slavery, women's rights, American Indian rights, and past US Presidents.

Our common heroes, even some with National Holidays, are not that heroic at all - in fact, some are down right EVIL. I had no idea! Mainstream (public) education, both high school and college, does not even expose us to our own TRUE history, because THAT does not promote patriotism. I know why: the true history of America is crude, uncomfortable, evil, and full of greed.

Despite somewhat depressing context (depressing because we were lied to), this is a FANTASTIC read for those who like the TRUTH. For the true history buff, though otherwise you may be bored after a few chapters....more

I love history. I love reading about it, I love memorizing it, I love questioning it, I love finding new interpretations of major events. So you would think I and this book would get along famously.

I've read (and enjoyed) some pretty dry non-fiction in my time, but I found this a bit of a drag. In addition, I already knew most of the shocking untruths that were revealed to us.

I feel like this book would only be really beneficial to people who really weren't paying attention, but those people arI love history. I love reading about it, I love memorizing it, I love questioning it, I love finding new interpretations of major events. So you would think I and this book would get along famously.

I've read (and enjoyed) some pretty dry non-fiction in my time, but I found this a bit of a drag. In addition, I already knew most of the shocking untruths that were revealed to us.

I feel like this book would only be really beneficial to people who really weren't paying attention, but those people are not the type to ever make it through this book the way it's written, so I can't really see who I could recommend this to.

I had never liked history in school or high school. Only later did I ever develop an interest from things like the History Channel, movies, and actually visiting historical sites. I wish I had read this book when I was younger because it is really enlightening, not only about history, but about why there is such lack of interest in history in students and adults. The author only covers 10 important topics in American history, but I feel I have a better understanding of them than I ever did in hiI had never liked history in school or high school. Only later did I ever develop an interest from things like the History Channel, movies, and actually visiting historical sites. I wish I had read this book when I was younger because it is really enlightening, not only about history, but about why there is such lack of interest in history in students and adults. The author only covers 10 important topics in American history, but I feel I have a better understanding of them than I ever did in high school after reading this book....more

DanielYes Selena, I know it's a sorry state but the good teachers in our educational system are few and far between. My feeling is that this country is goinYes Selena, I know it's a sorry state but the good teachers in our educational system are few and far between. My feeling is that this country is going to be flushed down the tube unless it completely revamps its entire educational system....more
Oct 14, 2007 12:37PM

Lies My Teacher Told Me Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong Loewen, James W.Starts off strong with some alarming but not unheard of characterizations about Senor Columbus, the Founding Fathers and their slaves (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness indeed), witch trials and civil rights struggles and then devolves into the author’s crusading for text book reform. His points are valid to any objective historian but the length to which he goes belaboring these inequalities becLies My Teacher Told Me Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong Loewen, James W.Starts off strong with some alarming but not unheard of characterizations about Senor Columbus, the Founding Fathers and their slaves (life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness indeed), witch trials and civil rights struggles and then devolves into the author’s crusading for text book reform. His points are valid to any objective historian but the length to which he goes belaboring these inequalities becomes tiresome. As you would expect he starts with the early “discoverers” of America. The fact that Nordic and Hispanic peoples predate the Anglos by some centuries and that Indians had been here for some thousands of years is a good place to start. His recounting of the numbers of natives that died from European disease offered a new statistic for me. Credible evidence from George Catlin in 1840 estimated that 98% of indigenous peoples were wiped out via disease, warfare, starvation and deculturation. This is important because early white settlers did not have a lot of time to clear heavily forested lands, prepare them for cultivation and, finally, start farming. With the decimation of the native population came ready-to-plow farmlands and fields since the Indians had been clearing and cultivating their lands for centuries. Kill an Indian, get a farm.

He moves systematically through the years but most of the final chapters are devoted to more specific, nit-picky types of contentions. This is not to say it is not the author’s point but the writing leaves me behind with his relentless crusading. I think he could have made his points more briefly without grinding the book to a standstill with his rants (which, truth be told, are as subjective as some of the things he is decrying)....more